Method of and machine for lining the flanges of can ends



1,634 500 July 5 1927' J. M. HOTHERSALL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR LINING THE FLANGES 0F CAN ENDS Filed Oct. 15. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet W 'JW f a [N ENTOR.

TORNEYS July 5 1927. 1,634,500

J. M. HOTH ERSALL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR DINING THE FLANGES 0F CAN ENDS W ATTORNEYS July 5, 1927, 1,634,500

J. M, HOTHER SALL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FQR L INING THE FLANGES 0F CAN ENDS Filed 001:.13, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 V1? TOR.

WI M 7 W ATTORNEYS 1,634,500 J.* M. HOTHERSALL METHF JD OF AND MACHINE FOR LIN'ING THE FLANGES 0F CAN ENDS Filed-0011431923 7 Sheets- Sheet 4 i 2" VE TOR. ii I YM M,

ATTORNEYS July 5 1927.

J. M. HOTHERSALL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR LINING THE FLANGES 0F CAN ENDS Filed Oct.l5, 1923 HHHHH 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 gm w WWI

'1 VE TOR.

Jul 5, 1927.-

v 1,634,500 J. M. HOTHERSALL METFIOD OF AND MACHINE FOR LINING THE FLANGES 0F CAN ENDS Filed 0.01;.15. 1923 v' snets-sheet 6 INVENT R. )1. BY I My ATTORNEYS 1,634500 July J. M. HOTHERSALL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR LINING THE FLANGES OF CANENDS Filed 0ct.l3; 192 '7 Sheets-Sheet ed to deposit said bompound in the flange opposite side of the machine, with the pulley Patented July-5, i927. J

UNITED srnrss PATENT orries.

JOHN M"BOTHEBSALII, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOBTO AHEBiCAN CAN COM- rm, 01 NEW YORK N. Y., A CORPORATION 03 NEW JERSEY. L

mnon or momma FOB mums rma FLAHGES or our nuns;

Application filed October 13', at. serial no. easaav.

This invention relates to a machine .for for extremely rapid production with mini- 56 lining the flanges of can covers, orthe like, mum danger of breakage, or becoming out of with material adapted to form a gasket, repair. I such as is commonly employed in the seam A still further. object of the invention is b by which the cover is secured to the can the provision, in a machine of this characbody. ter, of means for regulating the thickness of It will be understood that the purpose of the gasket in accordance with particular the gasket is to provide an hermetic seal and requirements so that not only is the eriphthat gaskets of one form or another are eral form of said gasket accurately defined,

necessary in practically all containers for but the thickness may be controlled with food products and like contents. 'A very. such nicety that the finished gasket may be @5 usual form of gasket is a paper ring formed clean-cut and exactly of the form and quanand positioned in the flange of the can-cover tity' of material required. 4

prior to the attachment of the latter to the Numerous other objects and advantages can body. This form, however, is not enof the invention'will be ap arent as it is hettirely satisfactory for all purposes and, of ter understood from the 'ollowing descriplate, it has become quite a common practice tion, which, taken in connection with the acto line the cover flanges with a semi-liquid companying drawings, discloses a preferred compound which is deposited upon the cover embodiment thereof.

flange in plastic state-and is dried by suit- Referring to the drawings,

able means while adhering to said flange. Figure 1 is'a side elevation of the ma- In the past, said compound has usually been chine, partially broken away for convenience applied by means ofwa dispensing nozz e inillustration; Y positioned above the cover flange and adapt- Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken from the as the cover is rotated, or. by means of removed; 36

a revolving disk adapted to bear against the Fig. 3 is a'plan. view of the machine; side of the flange and, through a scraping Fig. 4 is also a lan view with certain of action, to deposit the compound in said the parts partially 'roken away and with the flange. These methods have not been found feed bar retaining unit folded back for betentirely satisfactory, either from the standter illustration; point of production or of the results ob- Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken sub- 7 tained, since the time required for the nozstantially along a central line;

zle, or disk, to traverse the cover flange is Fig. 6 is an end view of the machine; "1 too great and, furthermorqno provision is Fig. 7- is a detailed sectional view of the made for the special formation of the liner, magnet retaining chamber, being taken sulo- Q as is desirable in certain forms of constantially along the line 7-7 in Fig. 3; tainers. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged partial sec- The present invention is directed to an imtions of the compound tank and applying provement in apparatus and in the ,method die, the latter being shown in the respecof lining can ends with conipound which tive figures in the positions assumed therecontemplates the use of a lining die adapted by at successive stages of the lining operato line the entire flange at a singlestroke tion; and with exactly fthe desired quantity of Fig. 11 is an enlarged partial plan view compound, which may vary; at diiferent' of the under side of a can cover lined in acpoints in the flange. In t is manner, a cordance with my invention; great saving of time'is effected and the form Fig. 12 is a partial plan'view of the linof the gasket. produced may be better suited ing die on the same scale as Fig. 11; to the efiective sealing of particular forms Figs. Band 14 are still further enlarged of covers. v views, taken substantially on. the section Another object of the invention is the lines 131-13 and 1414, respectively, of 105 provision of a simple and efficient apparatus Fig. 11; and I for the purpose stated which involvesirela Figs. 15 and-l6 are partial sectional views tively few operating-elements and adapted on the same scale as Figs. 13' and 14, being way for the covers as they are moved to the lining station. Side guides 24 and 25 are positloned'on the top of the table and are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the can covers to be lined. A cover feeding mechanism is superimosed upon the table and comprises primarily a retainin member 26 provided with integral rearwardly extending arms 27 and 28 which are pivoted at 29 and 31 to brackets 32 and 33secured to the frame at the opposite sides of the table, said retaining member being slotted to receive a'feed bar 34 which is adapted to be I'eciprocated to successively deliver the covers to the lining station. The assembly just described is adapted to be turned about the pivots 29 and 31 when it is desired to get at the portion of the table underneath, but is normally held at such height above the table as to permit a cover to pass therebeneath under the influence of thefeed bar 34. Screws 35 and 36 are employed to hold said assembly at the 1 the ing 58 desired position, these screws extending through bosses 37 and 38 formed at the rear of the retaining gnember 26 and taking into holes 39 and 1 in the table 21 (see Figs. 3

and 4).

The covers are positioned in any manner, and in the present illustration by hand, between the guides 24 and 25, with their inner sides andthe curl downward, and upon being moved into the sphere of action of feed bar 34, are engaged by pivoted dogs 42, which are secured in Intervals in the under side of-said bar. The bar is reciprocated by means of mechanism shown clearly in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. v

. Forward projections 44 are provided on the rear supporting legs '23 and support bearings 45 and 46 for a-cam shaft 47 "and also bearings 48 and 49 for a lever shaft 51.

Upon one end of the cam shaft 47 there is mounted a crank 52, which is secured by means of' a screw 53 to a connecting rod 54, WhlCh latter is formed with-rack teeth-55 in thenpper part thereof, which mesh with a gmlon 56 on a transverse shaft 57 having earm at 58' and i59 in the pivoted arms 28. Said, pinion and rack are held n mesh by means of 'a retaining member 61 mounted on said shaft 57 between the bearand: an outer collar 62. Said member forms ahousing for the pinion 56 and is slotted to lpermit movement of the rack ll ar 5% theret rough, as clearly as shown in 1g. c v

- netic slots 43 formed at Centrally mounted upon the shaft 57 is a spur gear 63', which extends through an opening 64 in a raised portion 65 of the retaining member 26 and meshes wlth rack teeth 66 formed in the rear upper face of "0 the feed bar 34. It will be obvious that, when the shaft 57 is rocked by the described mechanism, the bar 34 will be reciprocated and will carry the can covers to successive positions of rest upon the table 21. A suitable guideway for said feed bar is provided by meansof ledges 67 extending inwardly beneath a slot 68 formed in the central portion of the retaining mcmber26. The dogs 42 extend downwardl between the ledges 67 and are normally isposed in position to engage behinda can cover positioned between the id'es 24 and 25, bein however, movable a out their pivots to prevent returning movement of the covers upon the rearward reciprocation of said feed bar.

The cam shaft-47 is driven through the medium of a pulley 69 mounted on the outer end thereof and adapted to receive power from any suitable source. Rotation of said shaft serves to rock the shaft 57 and reciprocate the feed bar 34 whereby the covers are fed first to an idle station, then to a lining station and thereaftento another idle station, from which they are moved to a point of discharge.

At the lining station, I provide a plurality of electro-magnets 71 positioned in a retaining'chamber 72 disposed above said 11ning station, said, magnets being held in place by means of connecting plates 73 and studs 74. When the cover reaches the lining station, it is securely held against the under side of the retaining member 26 by the magattraction of said electro-magnets 71. 1 This insures not only that the cover will be positively held in place, but that it will present a level surface upon which the compound may be placed by the operation of the lining die to be presently described.

A tank 75 is formed in the table 21 at the lining station and is adapted to contain a quantity of semi-liquidcompound fed thereto through a filling cup 76, or in any desired manner. A lining die77 is positioned within said tank and is of the form of the can cover to be lined, being mounted upon a short shaft 78 journaled in a stufiing box 7 9 in the bottom of the tank 75. Inwardly extending arms 81 extend from the sides of said die to a hub 82 which is mounted upon said shaft 7 8. The shaft 78 is adapted to be raised and lowered means of a cam mechanism shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6.

A link 83 connects the lower end of said shaft 78 with an arm 84 of a bell crank lever 85 mounted on the lever shaft 51, the upper arm 86rof said lever carrying a cam' following roller 87 which is held in contact with lll) the periphery of a cam SS-mounted on the cam shaft 47. Thiscontact is maintained by means of aspring 89 secured at one end to the lever arm 86 and at the opposite end would be extended to one of the legs 23 (Fig. 6). It will be obvious that rotation of the shaft 47 causes the die 77 to be lifted,

i said compound governed by the thickness and shape of the die and the consistency of the compound. Furthermore, the thickness of the liner, or gasket, may obviously be regulated in accordance with. the height to which the die is lifted.

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 16, inclusive, it will be observed that I have shown, in the present instance, a die of oblong form adapted to line the covers of sardine cans, or the like. It has been found inpractice that there is a tendency, when the ordinary methods of lining (which have beenv hereinbefore referred to) are employed, for the lining material at the corners of the cover flange to become displace-d so that an insufficient quantity remains for adequately sealing the cover to the body at these points. I have, there fore, provided a form of die in which the corner. ortions 91 are thickerthan the side and en portions 92 and 93. This results in the application of an excess quantity of compound at the corners of the cover flange, as shown clearly in Figs. 11, 13 .and14 so that when the cover, which I have indicated by the reference character 94, is seamed to the can body, there will remain sufficient lining material to form a proper seal at the corners. The width of the gasket at the sides and ends is indicated by the reference character 95 in Fig. 13 and the width at the corners is indicated by the character96 in Fig. 14, these figurescorresponding respectively in scale to Figs.'15 and 16 showing the different widths oft-he dieat thepoints indicated by the lines 1515 and 16 -16 in Fig. 12'. It should be noted also that' the top. surface of,the die may be slightly concave, in order to assist in holdingthe compound thereon. g

The compoundemployed for this purpose is frequently quite elastic and sticky and it has been found'that after ithas been applied, there is a tendency for it to stretch out, forming a web between the liner in theflange of the cover. and the material which remains on the top of the die asthe latter recedes. This web tends to form a pocket between the under side of the cover and the surface of the compound in the tank and to break the vacuum which would otherwise be p lpagainst a seat 122 formed in said wall about formed in said pocket, I provide fient pipes 97 and 98 extendingnpfrom the base of the tank.

In order to break the web hereinbefore referred to and which is indicated by the reference character 99 in Fig. 10, there is provided an annular air pipe 101, which is perforated on its inner side;-as indicated at 102, so that compressed air, directed into said pipe, will be projected through the perforations and will uncture the,web which thereupon, as has en found in practice, will settle back, leaving suflicient'compoundto form a gasket upon the flange of the" cover. While the compressed air for this purpose may be supplied in any desired manner,-I preferably employ a pump 103, which is secured at theside of the frame and which is operated as willnow be described. A piston 104 is mounted on a piston rod 105 which slides in a bearing 106 secured to the rear of the pump and is connected by links 107- to a lever 108 mounted on the lever shaft 51 adjacent the bearing 49. Said lever 108 is actuated by a cam 109 mounted on the cam shaft 47 and acting upon a cam following roller 111, whiclTis held in contact with the cam surfaee by means of a spring 112 connected at one end to the lever 108 and at the opposite end to the frame, as indicated at 113. vReciprocation of the piston rod, serves to compress the air within a chamber 114 in the pump 103, an opening 115 being provided in the wall of the pump for the purpose of admitting the air to be compressed. A head 116 is formed on the end of the pump opposite that to which the bearing. 106 is secured afid'said head is provided with a recess, as indicated at'117. Said recess is communicably connected by means of a pipe 118 with the annular pipe 101 and an opening 119 is provided in the wall between .said recess and the chamber 114 of the A valve 121 is normally held the opening 119 by means of a coil spring 123, which is mounted on-a valve stem 124 and held under proper tension by'means of an adjusting Hut 125. This tension is such as-to normally hold said valve in closed position so that air will be prevented from entering the chamber 114 upon the return stroke of the piston. This obviously serves to prevent the drawing in of air through the apertures 102 upon said return stroke. ,A rear; wardly extending projection 126' is formed on the valve member 121 and is adapted to be engagedby a forward extension 127 on the piston rod 105 at the end of the compression stroke of said piston. -This, of course, unseats the valve and causes the air the result heretofore stated.

for,

In order toprevent the operation of the lining die when no cover is in position to be lined, I provide a device, shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 5/ Said device consists of a finger 128 normally disposed in the path of a the arms 81 of the die 77 when the latter is lifted. If, however, a can cover be inposition at the lining station, it bears upon the finger 128 and throws the extension 133 out of the path of said arm 81. In the event, that no cover is present, the die 77 is only raised a suflicient amount to engage the shoulder 135 in the notch 134 of said finger extension 133and is then held in fixed position. I The bell crank lever 85 is, of course, also held in fixed position, this being possible by reason of the stretching of the spring 89 which permits the cam following roller 87' cause the die can be reciprocated so rapidly,

and it is always, on an upward movement, fully charged with compound, so-that a momentary touch will evenly and accurately imprint the can end with the desired amount of compound and in exactly the ri ht place for the best hermetic sealing; the fully immersed in the compound after each applying stroke, and at all times when can ends are not fed, never permits any partial hardening or accumulation of compound on its imprinting or die edge, so that the die always applies the compound accurately and in desired amount; the compound does not have to pass through a restricted opening, and may be made with less solvent therein so as to be thicker and heavier, and the lined can ends require less drying; and a complete continuous and endles line of sealing material all around the can'end can be imprinted at one stroke.

It is thought that the invention and many 2 other of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and die being arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

, I claim:

1. A gasket lining machine, comprising means for delivering flanged can covers to a lining station, and a substantially annular continuous die member reciprocable upward and downward relative to a cover to be lined, and from a supply of lining compound, to apply a gasket to the cover flange.

2. A gasket lining machine, comprising means for delivering flanged can covers to a lining station and means for applying a lining compounds to the entire flange area to be lined and in varying amount in different portions of said flange.

3. A gasket lining machine, comprising cover feeding mechanism, means for holding a cover in position to be lined at a lining station, a tank adapted to-contain a supply of semi-liquid compound, and an annular lining .die of the shape and size of the desired gasket normally immersed in said compound and adapted to be moved to position'depositing the compound in the flange of said cover.

4. A gasket lining machine, comprising cover feeding mechanism, means for holding a cover in position to'be lined at a lining station, a tank adapted to contain a supply of semi-liquid compound, and an annular lining die ,normally immersed in said compound and adapted to be reciprocated upward and downward and to a position depositing the compound in the flange of said cover.

5. A gasket lining machine, comprising cover feeding mechanism, means for holding a cover in position to be lined at a lining station, a tank adapted to contain a supply of semi-liquid compound, and a lining die normally immersed in said compound and adapted to be lifted reciprocated upward and downward and to a position depositing the compound in the flange of said cover, said die being formed to carry predetermined variable amounts of compound on the different portions thereof.

6. A gasket lining machine, comprising cover feeding mechanism, means for-holding a cover in position to be'lined at a lining station, a tank adapted to contain a supply of semi-liquid compounds, and an annular lining die normally immersed in said compound and adapted to be reciprocated up loo wardand downward and to a position dei for applying com ward and downward and to a predetermined height to form a gasket of desired thickness in the flange of the cover.

8. A gasket lining machine, comprising means for holdin a can cover at a lining station, a tank a apted to hold a supply of semi-liquid compound, a lining die normally immersed iIl'Sflld compound and reciprocable toward and from the cover to be lined, and means for breaking a web of compound which tends to form between the cover flange and recedin die.

9. A gas et lining machine, comprising means for holding a can cover at a lining station,

immersed in said compo d and movabletoward and from the cover to be lined, and means for breaking): web of compound which tends to form tween the cover flange and receding die, said last-mentioned means comprising mechanism for directing compressed air into said web at spaced points.

10. A gasket lining machine, comprising cover fee ing mechanism, means for holding a cover in position to be lined at a lining station, a tank adapted to contain a supply of semi-liquid compound, a lining die normally immersed m said compound and adapted to be lifted to position do ositing the compound in the flange of sai cover and means for preventing the operation 0 said die when no cover is inposition to be lined.

11. A compound liningmachine for the lining of can ends; comprising means for supporting the ends to be lin a source of lining compound arranged below said so porting means, and means for'carrying t e com ound from said source and positlvely app ying it simultaneously in annular form to all parts of the flanged area to be lined.

12. A compound-lining machinefor the lining of can ends comprising means for supporting and holding from tut-ping the. ends to be lined, a source of linmg compound arranged below said sup orting means, and means comprisin a die aving the annular shape and size 0 the part to be lined for carrymg the compound from said source and positively applgmg it simultane, piusl to all parts of the anged area to be 13. In a. compo d lining machine for lining can ends, the combination of-means und to can ends, and means for attracting and moving thecan ends to'the plane at which the compound is applied-at once to all desired parts of the can ends. I

a tank adapted to hold a supply of semi-liquid compound, a lining die-normally die corresponding at all lining can ends,

14. In a compound lining machine for lining'can ends, the combination of means for applying compound to can ends, and

magnetic means for causing the can end to coincide with the plane at which the compound is applied at once to all desired parts of the can ends.

15. In a compound lining machine for lining can ends, the combination of a source of lining compound, a die having an annular contour corresponding with the parts of the can end tobe lined, the Width of the operative all parts with the desired width of the compound when applied to the can end, means for feedin can ends into position above the face of the die corresponding at die to rece ve the compound, and means for moving the die. alternately from the compound to the can end to apply a complete as'ket at one stroke, and then to a position immersed in the compound so that drying and excessive collecting of compound on they die is prevented. v

16. In a compound lining machine for lining can ends and forming gaskets thereon, the combination of a source of lining compound, a die having a contour corresponding with theparts of the can to be lined, the Width of the operative face of the parts with the desired width of; the com ound wli en applied to the can end, means or holding can ends m-position above the die to receive the compound, means for moving the die alternately from the compound to the can end to apply a complete gasket at one stroke and then to a osition immersed in the compound so that rying and excessive collecting of comound on the die is prevented, and means or causing the can end to coincide with the plane at which the compound is applied so as. to receive a com lete and suflicient gasket of the compound.

17. The combination of a the shoulder of a can end and to place a gasket of compound on the flange at oneimend and thence to the compound.

18. In a compound HD1110 machine for the combination of a source of lining compound, a die having an annular contour corresponding'with the parts of the can to'be lined, the width of the operative face of the die corres onding at all parts with the desired widt of the compound when applied to the can end, means for holding can ends in position above the die to receive the compound, and means for moving the die. alternately from :the compound to the can end to apply a complete 7 die having an operative 'face adapted to extend around 7 ing of compoun corresponding with the parts ofxthe can end gasket at one stroke and then to a position immersed in the compound so that drying and excessive collecting of compound on the die is prevented.

. 19. In a compound lining machine "for lining can ends, the combination of a source of lining compound, a die having a contour corresponding withthe parts of the can to be lined, the width of the operative face of the die corresponding at all parts with the desired width of the compound when apcompound so that drying and excessive col-- lecting of compound on the die is prevented, and means for preventing the operation of said die when no can end is in position to be lined.

20. In a compound lining machine for lining can ends and forming gaskets 'there on, the combinationof a source vof lining compound, adie having a contour corresponding with the parts of the can to be lined, the width of the operative face of the die corresponding at all parts with the desired width of the compound when applied to the can end, means for holding can ends in position above the die to receive the compound, means for moving the die alternately from the compound to the can end to apply a complete gasket at one stroke and then to a position immersed in the compound so that dying and excessive collectmeans for causing the canrend to coincide with the plane at which the compound is applied so as to receivea complete and sufficient gasket of the compound, and means for preventing the operation of said die when no'can end isin osition to be lined. In a compound iining machine for hmng can ends, the combination of a source of lining compound, a die having a contour to be lined, the width of the operative face of the die corresponding at all parts with the desired width of the compound when applied to the can end, means for holding can ends in position above the die to receive the compound, means for moving the die alternately from the compound to the can end to apply a complete gasket at one stroke and then to a pos1t1on immersed in the compound, so that drying and excessive collecting of compound on the die is prevented, and a hinged frame adapted to be lifted and cal-Zing the said means for holding the can on on the die is prevented,

22. 'Ihe' method of lining can ends which consists in positioning ,a can end with its inner side downward above a body of lining compound and elevating from said compound to, said can end, an amount of compound suflicient for a gasket and imprinting said amount of compound at the. same time as a complete gasket on the can end outside of the shoulder and'on the flange of said can end, and eausingitto adhere thereto.

23. The method 'of lining can ends which consists in positioning a can end with its inner side downward above a body of lining compound, attracting said can end upward and holding it from further upward 'movement, and elevating from said compound toposition, and elevating from said compound to said can end, an amount of compound sufficient for a gasket and imprinting said amount of compound at the same time as a complete gasketon the can end, and causing it to adhere thereto.

25;. The process of lining can ends which comprises positioning can ends with their inner sides downward, providing a bath of lining compound, and removing from said bath upward to the can end a compound member in the annular shape of a gasket and depositing the. same in said shape on to the flange of the can end.

26. A gasket lining machine, comprising meansf0r delivering flanged covers to a lin- 27. In a compound lining machine for lin-- ing can ends and forming gaskets thereon, the combination of a source of compound,

means for arranging a can-end above. said source with its inner side downward, a die member formed to pass about the shoulder of the can end and adapted to convey lining material upward from said source to the flange of said end and above said shoulder and means for moving said die member upward from said source of the under side of saidcan ,end.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

